Bigger than the Law: The Use of Illegal Drugs in Bodybuilding

By: Liam Moore

In the sport of bodybuilding, it is almost a necessity to use steroids in order to succeed. Though it was previously taboo to discuss, many current bodybuilders are quite open about their use of these substances. So, the question arises, why aren’t bodybuilders legally punished for possessing and using them?

Background: The Bronze Era

Sandow

Modern bodybuilding began in the early 20^th century with The Great Competition in England, created by Eugen Sandow. Sandow, often referred to as the Father of Modern Bodybuilding, considered the aesthetics of a physique to be as important as its strength. This idea spurred him to start The Great Competition to complement the ongoing strongman shows. The Bronze Era of bodybuilding stretched from the advent of modern bodybuilding into the 1930s, where muscular symmetry was the standard of excellence. Though the sport was small and equipment was limited, stars like Sandow himself and George Hackenschmidt stood out, popularizing early bodybuilding. At this time, steroids had not yet reached the sport, nor, for the majority of the era, had they been invented yet.

The Silver Era

Reeves

Bodybuilding' popularity rose even more in the Silver Era, spanning from the 1940s to 1950s. Steroids had not yet reached the sport, yet dramatic improvements in physique can be seen compared to the previous era. Official bodybuilding shows like the Mr. Universe that continues to this day began in the silver era, propelling the sport to popularity. A small waist and wide shoulders, the “V-taper”, were prioritized, with John Grimek dominating the era, winning most of the new competitions. Steve Reeves played a major part in popularizing the sport as well. Reeves transitioned to a career in acting after he found success in bodybuilding. Acting as an ambassador for the sport, his films such as Hercules (1958) introduced the mainstream media to the aesthetic physiques that bodybuilding cultivates.

The Golden Era

Schwarzenegger (left), Oliva (Right)

Bodybuilding took its biggest leap into the mainstream during the Golden Era (1960s-1980s). As its name suggests, the Golden Era is commonly regarded as the sport’s peak. The training became more precise, with different techniques and machines being developed, and the Mr. Olympia, bodybuilding’s biggest competition, was started in 1965. The onset of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) or steroids began in the golden era as well. Steroids were new: bodybuilders were not aware of their detrimental side effects but used them due to their anabolic effects. The most common steroids were Testosterone, Dianabol, and Anavar. Though steroids are harmful, they were not yet illegal during the Golden Era. Steroids could easily be obtained from doctors, leading to an inflation of muscle size compared to the previous era. Muscle size, symmetry, and the V-taper marked the ideal physique during this period. The golden era also saw bodybuilding’s biggest star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, emerge into popular media. Schwarzenegger won seven Mr. Olympias during his time as a competitor, destroying his competition at the time. Schwarzenegger then moved to movie stardom, becoming a household name with countless famous roles. Other competitors such as Frank Zane, a friend and training partner of Schwarzenegger, and Sergio Oliva, my personal favourite bodybuilder, exemplified the ideal physiques of the sport as well.

The Modern Era

Coleman

Bumstead

The Modern Era of bodybuilding spans from the 1990s until today. The 1990s-2010s shifted its focus to a “Mass Monster” physique. Absolute size and conditioning (leanness) were favoured over the more aesthetic look found in previous eras. The start of the Modern Era also saw a legal shift in steroids, where they became a controlled substance (more will be said in the next section). Despite this, the use of steroids became more prevalent and more severe as the competition increased. Competitors like Ronnie Coleman and Phil Heath exemplified the Mass Monster physique, winning eight and seven Mr. Olympias respectively. Coleman’s dominance, winning the most Mr. Olympia titles ever, won him the title of Greatest Bodybuilder of All Time in many fans’ eyes. Standing at 5’11 and 300 lbs on stage, Coleman stood as the peak of human capability. Despite the size of the competitors, bodybuilding lost some popularity during this era. However, the sport has seen a resurgence in the 2020s with the popularization of the Classic Division in the Mr. Olympia. The Classic Division rewards physiques that resemble the Golden Era standard, whereas the Open Division rewards the Mass Monsters. These separate divisions have allowed aesthetic physiques to thrive, with social media bolstering the popularity of competitors that society idealizes. Chris Bumstead, recently retired, is the pinnacle of the 2020s’ Classic Division. His statue-like physique paired with his social media presence has inspired many teenagers to begin exercising. Moreover, modern bodybuilders have become more transparent with their use of steroids and the negative effects that they have. By advocating against their use, competitors incentivize their fans to make informed decisions in their gym journey rather than sacrificing their body for aesthetics.

The Legality of Steroids

In the United States, the Anabolic Steroids Control Act of 1990 marked anabolic steroids as a schedule 3 controlled substance. Possession of steroids are thus punishable by up to one year in prison and a maximum fine of $1000, while possession with intent to distribute is punishable by up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. While possession of steroids is a crime in the United States, bodybuilders are rarely arrested owning them. This is because the law requires a warrant or reasonable suspicion to search citizens for drugs and “looking jacked” is not a valid reason to search a bodybuilder. Moreover, steroid use is very prevalent. Police do not have the resources to attempt to arrest every steroid user, especially considering that steroids are only directly dangerous to the users themselves. Thus, law enforcement seeks to target distributors of steroids. By cutting off the supply, law enforcement is able to limit the accessibility of these harmful drugs.

This still begs the question: if bodybuilders admit to taking steroids, shouldn’t they be arrested? While it may seem commonsensical to assume that the simple admission of use should be a valid reason to arrest bodybuilders, it turns out that actually taking steroids is not illegal, only possessing and distributing them are. Furthermore, as was previously stated, it is much more efficient to target the sources of steroids rather than the individuals who use them. Arresting bodybuilders could also have a negative effect as well. If a mere admission of use would cause a competitor to get arrested, their incentive to be transparent about their steroid use would decline. Bodybuilders would still continue to use performance-enhancing drugs, but they would stop informing their fans about the harms of the substances. In countries like Canada, the actual possession of steroids is legal. Bodybuilders may have and use the drugs without penalty, but any action related to their supply is strictly prohibited. Therefore, there is a legal grey area around steroids: it is illegal to buy and sell them, but owning and using them is legal (or unlikely to be punished). The law thus seeks to protect citizens and, by punishing the supply and allowing transparency, it strikes a balance between the use of steroids in bodybuilding and its legislation.

References

Bodybuilding: The rise, fall and rebirth. TechnoGym. (n.d.). https://www.technogym.com/hk/newsroom/bodybuilding-rise-fall-rebirth/

Dufour, D. (2020, October 16). Rick Collins, Esq.. answers: Can bodybuilders get arrested for using steroids in the US?. Generation Iron Fitness & Strength Sports Network. https://generationiron.com/rick-collins-esq-bodybuilders-arrested-steroids/

Neuroasis. (2024, September 24). The Great Competition of 1901: The start of modern bodybuilding. Apollo Imperium. https://www.apolloimperium.com/article/the-great-competition-1901-the-start-of-modern-bodybuilding

Norman, R. (2025a, February 21). Bodybuilding history (part 1): Ancient, Bronze & Silver Eras. NatBod Bodysport Australia. https://www.natbod.com/2024/01/26/bodybuilding-history-part-1/

Norman, R. (2025b, February 21). Bodybuilding history (part 2): The golden era - 60s, 70s & 80s. NatBod Bodysport Australia. https://www.natbod.com/2024/02/15/golden-era-bodybuilding-history/